Long-term IT Goals

An element missing from the WSU IT Plan prior to November 1997, was a set of long-term goals. If we add "long-term goals" to the taxonomy of planning terms that has evolved over the last several years, they would include (in descending order of specificity): (1) assumptions, (2) vision, (3) guiding principles, (4) strategic priorities, (5) long-term goals, and (6) implementation actions. Within the framework of identified strategic priorities, the following long-term goals will be formulated, reviewed, revised and replaced as needed.

A. (Strategic Priority #1) To enhance the quality of the learning experience:

1. Provide intensive IT support to link and integrate the WSU-Davis and WSU-Ogden campuses (CATS, Network Management, Telecommunications).
2. Construct and maintain modern, accessible voice/data/video communications systems for both Internet and Intranet access (CATS, LAN Coordination, Network Management, Telecommunications).
3. Provide a learning environment that supports development of general student IT competencies and discipline-specific IT skills (Academic Computing, ARCC).
4. Provide a learning environment that supports development of IT competencies for faculty and staff (Academic Computing, CATS, Computing Support, Teaching & Learning Forum, TLTR).
5. Utilize the most technologically advanced tools available to provide students and faculty access to important reference material (HETI, Library, Network Management).
6. Understand the curricular and academic goals of the faculty and provide quality technology support to help meet those goals (Academic Computing, CATS).
7. Efficiently and effectively manage centrally-supported academic computing facilities to support the learning and research needs of students, faculty and staff (Academic Computing, Computing Support, Network Management).
8. Provide a full set of high quality courses, programs and services to the growing number of Internet-based WSU students (CATS, Continuing Education, HETI).

B. (Strategic Priority #2) Improved management of enrollment on and off campus:

1. Support the Provost’s team effort to analyze and improve recruiting, admissions and advising processes (Academic Affairs, Administrative Computing).

C. (Strategic Priority #3) Build [WSU] Image and Identity.

1. Provide a coordinated, high quality view of the university's colleges, departments, programs, facilities and administrative support units on the World-Wide-Web (CATS, Computing Support, Continuing Education, Public Relations, Web Development).
2. Continue implementation of the "Wildcard" one-card ID system and enhance its functionality for students, faculty and staff (Wildcard Management Team, Administrative Computing).

D. (Strategic Priority #4) Increase and Improve Use of Resources.

1. Identify on-going IT costs and develop realistic base budget funding (Academic Computing, AITC, CIO, ARCC, IT Funding Task Force).
2. Be creative and collaborative in providing adequate support for both: (1) existing systems and (2) new mandated priorities as they occur and are funded, such as the new library system and USHE information system requirements (Administrative Computing, AITC).
3. Provide, support and enhance a standardized, integrated workgroup software environment with a robust set of standard application packages and network services (AITC, Computing Support, LAN Coordination, Network Management).
4. Support and enhance administrative transaction data systems within the WSU Integrated Workgroup Environment and WSU Intranet development strategies (AITC, Administrative Computing, Network Management, Data Administration).
5. Develop and implement an Intranet strategy to enhance and expand access to administrative information (Administrative Computing, AITC, CIO, Data Administration, IIR Team, IDA Team).
6. Improve the reliability of centrally-supported computer systems to reduce the amount of staff time spent in maintenance, troubleshooting and repair (Academic Computing, Administrative Computing, Computing Support).
7. Automate key software distribution functions to improve and stabilize user environments and reduce the amount of staff time required for installs, configurations and user follow-up (Academic Computing, Computing Support, Network Management).